Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies face English test



TAXI and minicab drivers face an English test in a bid to weed out drivers who speak too little of the language to take passengers to where they want to go.

The test proposal follows complaints from passengers that drivers from the new European Union countries, mainly in Eastern Europe, don't speak enough English or follow UK road rules.

Under the new rules to be considered by the council's private hire and hackney carriage licensing subcommittee tomorrow, drivers would face an interview where examiners would decide whether they needed to complete a basic spoken and written English test.

Would-be drivers will have to read out a page from the taxi handbook then explain what it means to the examiners.

Cabinet member for transport Peter Greenhalgh said drivers from all backgrounds would have to pass, and that it is possible UK English speakers could fail.

"We wouldn't do this just because of where somebody comes from," Coun Greenhalgh (Con, Freshbrook and Grange Park) said. "We aren't going to single anyone out."

He said taxis and minicabs in Swindon were "generally pretty good" but the council still received an average three to four complaints a week.

He said the complaints included the driver not understanding the passengers' accents as well as the other way around.

Swindon Racial Equality Council president Coun Steve Allsopp said there needed to be safeguards included in the test to make sure they were fair and objective.

"It needs to be at a level that applicable and doesn't indirectly discriminate," Coun Allsopp (Labour, Parks) said.

"If they aren't able to understand the directions of customers we would support that.

"But we don't want people unfairly discriminated against.

"It needs to be objective with the standard clearly set."

The tests could start as early as January 1. Prior to taking the local knowledge test, would-be drivers "will be required to attend an interview at which there will be an appraisal of his or her spoken English, English comprehension, a test of reading, basic written English and basic mathematics", the report says.

"Drivers not reaching a satisfactory level will be refused a licence."

The review has been prompted by the new age discrimination laws that mean the council can no longer restrict licences to drivers over 24-years-old.

The council proposal would replace the age limit with the requirement to hold a full driving licence for three years before being allowed behind the wheel of a minicab or taxi and introduce tougher rules for non-British drivers.

The report says: "In recent times there has been an influx of drivers from newly-elected members of the European Economic Community and although they have held full driving licences in their home country for over 12 months, it is clear from the number of comments and complaints received that their unfamiliarity with English road systems and signs, and unfamiliarity with driving on the left-hand side of the road, may be causing them initial difficulty."

Mixedreaction

Taxi and minicab drivers and operators have mixed feelings about the proposal. Minicab operator V Cars director John Gardner questioned why the council was targeting new arrivals.

"We welcome any moves to ensure that all Swindon's taxi drivers are good drivers as well as able to read and write English and do basic maths, though it does seem slightly odd to single out people from newly-elected members of the EU," he said. "Our rule of thumb is that all V Cars drivers, whether British or from anywhere abroad, must be good drivers, courteous, smart, clean, communicative and helpful. We train all our new drivers, and any that apply to work for us from abroad are interviewed to make sure their English is very good before undergoing three weeks of physical driving instruction in the UK and training in local knowledge and customer care." Black cab driver and taxi working group member Tony Johnson said the new tests were long overdue. He said minicab drivers not being able to speak English was causing aggravation, particularly among intoxicated passengers. Mr Johnson said he knew of instances where non-English speaking drivers had missed whole villages because of poor local knowledge and communication. If existing minicab drivers had to sit the English test "we'd get a 90 per cent failure rate", he said.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I can hear it now....

Racist Council target newcomers who only want a better life

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_around_the_world

I wonder who will be conducting the test, if its the LO will they need trained?



Now that one looks to be a bone of contention in the offing.

Tougher rules for non British? Hmmm, cant see that being popular.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I think even the CRE have no problem with making an english test part of the 'fit and proper' criteria.

So anyone who shouts racist is a plank.

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IDFIMH

Cabbies must now take English tests

COMPULSORY English tests to weed out taxi drivers who don't speak the language well enough are to be introduced from April 1.

Last night members of Swindon Council's private hire and hackney carriage licensing sub-committee, agreed to the compulsory tests for all new applicants, regardless of their nationality or background.

The proposal for the tests follows numerous complaints from passengers that drivers from the new European Union countries don't speak enough English or follow UK road rules.

Under the new rules, would-be drivers will now have to face tests that will assess the level of their English.

The committee was told that each week the council receives up to 10 complaints about taxi drivers.

Members agreed that any driver who currently holds a licence, and so would not be forced to take the new test, could be made to participate if there were complaints made against them.

The amount of complaints needed before being called to take the exams is still to be decided.

Council officers are now in talks with Swindon College about the format of the tests and how they would work.

In a question read to the committee, Jaginder Bassi, of the Swindon Racial Equality Council, said he welcomed the move to improve the standards of service in the town, but asked the council to ensure the tests are set at a level that would allow drivers to do their jobs properly.

Coun Brian Ford (Con, Wroughton and Chiseldon) said: "We have a duty to the travelling public.

"We have to make sure that drivers are picking them up and delivering them to where they want to go quickly and safely."

Chairwoman Coun Sinead Darker (Con, Central) said that members would take on board the concerns.

The committee also agreed to drop the requirement that all new applicants for a licence must be at least 24.

The condition was introduced by the council five years ago, but because of the new age discrimination laws it is now illegal.

Instead, applicants will be required to have held a driving licence for a minimum of three years. This amendment will be introduced on January 1.

Taxi drivers across the town have welcomed the move to improve the service.

But some have questioned whether it is too late, because many of the problematic drivers already have licences.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Does anyone ever read the acts nowadays?

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IDFIMH

Love to see it in London, for hacks as well equality! would get rid of GBC and ten thousand sweatys what a bonus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

You would never get through the london knowledge if you did'nt speak english.

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stressed controller!!!

I had a phone call yesterday complaining that one of our Polish drivers couldn't understand the customer on the way home from the pub on Thursday night.

Took great pleasure in playing back his phone call when he made the booking. Completely incoherent,his saving grace was caller id recognizing him.

Oh and the Polish driver?Well he was actually a white Englishman who struggles with 'inebriated Geordie'.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

What a god send that piece of kit is.

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IDFIMH

see the gmb communist party are working for the workers ? The recent news that the GMB union has set up a migrant workers branch from amongst Southampton’s estimated 30,000 Poles is apparently causing concern amongst some union members. This is not, perhaps, surprising as the presence of so many migrants in the city is increasingly perceived to be bad news for both job availability and wage levels.

The additional news that the GMB intend setting up similar migrant union branches in other towns - including Slough, Brighton and Swindon - is further fuelling fears that the union is more interested in building up its revenue from membership dues, than it is in representing the legitimate interests of its British members.

None of this has been helped by the revelation that the GMB is also producing union recruitment literature in Polish,pakistani urdu as well as in a number of other migrant languages!

up the workers a boys ?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

you must be a member then cos thats all they do is sleep

YES proud to be a member and proud of acheivments the GMB have made in Brighton. Very sad that people like you attack an organisation that is there to help all people regardless of race or creed or country of birth.

Now now, He did not say a word about the Boy Scouts

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!